According to Pastor Turnbull, the decision to march is about, “preserving, protecting and planning the future of the Virgin Islands.”

The march follows a call by political candidate, businessman and former Permanent Secretary, Julian Willock, on at least two religious leaders to take up the challenge.

VI Legacy

Pastor Turnbull in lending support to the ‘Peoples March’ was adamant, “all of us, whether we are living on Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost van Dyke need to come out, no matter our nationality, religious and political persuasions, and march.”

He said, “as a people, we must see this cause differently…As a people, we must be thankful to be alive in this century at this time, for in standing up, we are saying to the great men and women of years gone upon, whose shoulders we stand today that we want to preserve the integrity of their legacy.”

Organisers of the ‘Peoples’ March,’ —led by Social Activist Floyd Burnett aka ‘Heritage’—in outlining the reasons for the action say, “we are particularly aggrieved by our overdue financial statements; the unaccounted for, $7.2M invested in BVI Airways; the overspending on the $1M plus wall at The Elmore Stoutt High School; the planned TB Lettsome Airport expansion at this critical financial time; the secret correspondence letter with FCO; the details of the UK Loan guarantee and the Cruise Pier project's exuberant overspending, among other issues.”

Permission

Deputy Governor, David D. Archer Jr., has since also reaffirmed his support for the constitutional rights of Virgin Islanders to take part in the march but cautioned public servants, to seek permission first.

The People’s March is set to start from 2:00 PM from the Sunday Morning Well where residents will proceed to the Central Administration Complex, demanding accountability for millions of dollars in government funds unaccounted for, or wasted, in addition to other pressing domestic issues.

18 Responses to “Influential Pastor lobbies national support for Peoples’ March”

“Sometimes the difference between individual and organized indignation is the difference between criminal and political action.”

We have already had a march for the individuals who fear for the loss of privilege and power associated with the easy money of financial services. Now we will learn if there is any genuine consern for the loss conscience and credibility associated with continuous overspending, corruption and incompetence of our government. The people’s march may not have the dynamic NDP marketing machine behind it but the questions being raised are fundamental to who we are as people and what kind of community we intend to build for our children whether there is a financial service industry or not.

It is some of us that have the same Government overspending. Who you think they overspending on? Local contractors who over price everything and when they can’t get the jobs we curse the same Government and threaten to vote them out. Ignorance is bliss. Corruption? Really? You overstretched. The Governmebt has made some bad decisions. Every Government perhaps have them. BVI Airways was a huge blunder but corruption assumes some one in Government benefitted from the money. When the cruise pier was going to build for a reasonable cost we protested against the terms. Since then the Government was not upfront about the real cost of the project for fear of more protests. The Cruise pier had overruns but I doubt it was 40 million. We voted them in. The way we deal with our own decision is to make another one. The UK Decision was handed down to us. We did. It make it. That’s why we protest. The march tomorrow is against ourselves. That Government reflects us. It’s of us and by us and if we want good Government then perhaps we need to become good people!!!

This Pastor should stay out of politics and look at ways to help improve the communities where government has failed. I think we would benefit more from an organized volunteer cleanup of litter and old cars, furniture, appliances, scrap metal, tree trunks, bush. You name it. The Pastor can use his influence here.

After the hurricanes I saw Caucasians set up a soup table for all people with children. They did not look rich to me. On the other hand I saw well to do brown people pushing in the lines for gas. The Pastor could write a sermon on this amazing difference in behavior and stop promoting civil disorder.

Think that the good Pastor Turnbull should form an alliance with Pastor Cline...
And run in the next elections... What a great team that would be ...
Politics and religion are appear to be good friends.. Stay tuned for next week's exciting episode.

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